Biblio

Optical burst switching (OBS) is a candidate switching paradigm for future backbone all-optical networks. However, data burst contention can be a major problem especially as the number of lightpath connections as well as the overall network radius increases. Furthermore, the absence of or limited buffering provision in core nodes, coupled with the standard one-way resources signaling aggravate contention occurrences resulting in some of the contending bursts being discarded as a consequence. Contention avoidance as well as resolution measures can be applied in such networks in order to resolve any contention issues. In that way, the offered quality of service (QoS) as well as the network performance will remain consistent and reliable. In particular, to maintain the cost effectiveness of OBS deployment, restricted intermediate buffering can be implemented to buffer contending bursts that have already traversed much of the network on their way to the intended destination. Hence in this paper we propose and analyze a restricted intermediate Node Buffering-based routing and wavelength assignment scheme (RI-RWA) scheme to address contention occurrences as well as prevent deletion of contending bursts. The scheme primarily prioritizes the selection of primary as well as deflection paths for establishing lightpath connections paths as a function of individual wavelength contention performances. It further facilitates and allows partial intermediate buffering provisioning for any data bursts that encounter contention after having already propagated more than half the network's diameter. We evaluate the scheme's performance by simulation and obtained results show that the scheme indeed does improve on key network performance metrics such as fairness, load balancing as well as throughput.